Proton enters electric vehicle market as distributor

The new Smart 1 model Malaysian car maker Proton signed a deal with German-Chinese car brand Smart to distribute the latter’s electric vehicles in Malaysia and Thailand starting from the fourth quarter 2023, Proton said in a statement on August 18. Smart, a joint venture between Germany’s Mercedes-Benz and China’s Geely, has switched to produce only battery-powered versions of its current Smart Fortwo model range in 2017. It will commence production of an electric subcompact crossover called Smart 1 in 2023 which will be the model sold by Proton. For Proton, entering the electric vehicle market…

Malaysian car maker Proton signed a deal with German-Chinese car brand Smart to distribute the latter’s electric vehicles in Malaysia and Thailand starting from the fourth quarter 2023, Proton said in a statement on August 18.

Smart, a joint venture between Germany’s Mercedes-Benz and China’s Geely, has switched to produce only battery-powered versions of its current Smart Fortwo model range in 2017.

It will commence production of an electric subcompact crossover called Smart 1 in 2023 which will be the model sold by Proton.

For Proton, entering the electric vehicle market “marks a big step,“ the firm’s CEO Li Chunrong said.

‘’The first phase of business with Smart is focused on retailing but it provides us with valuable knowledge and experience not only on how to service and charge electric vehicles but also how to transform the way we interact with our customers,” he added.

Environmentally friendly

Li added that the move into this market segment would also help to drive Proton’s move towards being “more environmentally-friendly in all facets of its operations” as the car maker works to help Malaysia achieve its carbon neutrality target by 2050.

Proton also announced its intention to model retail operations for Smart on what the company does in other markets.

Digital lifestyle

This would include a “heavy emphasis on an integrated digital lifestyle” and other elements as part of the Smart cars’ connected digital solutions, including journey planning, charging availability and even purchase considerations.

Proton, Malaysia’s homegrown carmaker was launched in 1985 under the administration of then-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad who aimed at establishing a national automobile industry. However, Proton had stubborn troubles to become profitable and eventually sold a 49.9-per cent stake to China’s Geely Automobile in 2017.